Yes, yes, we all know that fast food isn't real food and we've read all the scary stories and facts about them on Reddit. After all, it's 2018 and Americans aren't that stupid (well, almost). Unfortunately, through clever marketing, a lot of chains have convinced consumers that their items aren't that bad, and there's been a recent surge of people returning to McDonald's and Taco Bell while choosing to ignore the dangers. We understand — after all, it's hard to resist a Big Mac or a Nacho BellGrande. But sometimes it takes having facts literally shoved into our faces to realize the reality of the situation. And after learning some of these disgusting statistics about our favorite hamburgers and tacos, we honestly feel a little sick. Don't believe us? Below, nine facts the chains don't want you to know.

A 2010 study revealed that many soda drinks tested positive for coliform bacteria, which indicates possible fecal contamination. And that wasn't all. Researchers also found traces of antibiotic-resistant microbes and E.coli. Well, that's just lovely.

2 of 9

Credit:

Getty Images

Taco Bell's meat is only 88 percent beef.

Yep, it's true, and you're probably wondering, "Wait, what is the other 12 percent made out of?" According to Taco Bell, it's a "signature recipe." Right.

3 of 9

Credit:

Getty Images

The McRib is made from pig innards, tripe, heart, and scalded stomach.

This is hardly a surprise for those who actually eat the McRib, but it certainly doesn't make us feel any better. Altogether, the McRib meat has more than 70 incredients of weird processed deliciousness.

4 of 9

Credit:

Getty Images

Chicken nuggets are only about 50 percent chicken.

In case you're wondering what the other 50 percent is made out of it, it's "corn derivatives, sugars, leavening agents, and completely synthetic ingredients." In fact, according to former McDonald's employee and Reddit user DFunkatron, nuggets are so far from real food, they melt instead of rot. "I accidentally left a whole bag of about 100 chicken nuggets out on a counter for way too long. They melted. Into a pool of liquid." Frightening.

5 of 9

Credit:

Getty Images

Salads are dusted with propylene glycol, a chemical found in antifreeze.

You would think a simple salad would have the least amount of processed ingredients, but some places like dusting lettuce with this chemical to keep it crisp. But hey, at least now you have an excuse not to eat crappy fast food salad.

6 of 9

Credit:

Getty

Some fast food sandwiches don't have eggs but an "egg blend."

Subway is the biggest culprit of this. Their egg omelet patty is made up of a chemical concoction of more than 30 scary-sounding ingredients in their "egg blend," including our friend Propylene glycol, the same ingredient found in antifreeze and lube, TBHQ, and isolated pea product (??). Whatever happened to just cracking an egg?

7 of 9

Credit:

Getty Images

Fast food makes you stupider.

And no, we're not exaggerating. Two recent studies have found that fast food, over time, shrinks the brain, much like victims of Alzheimer's. So yes, it leaves permanent damage to your brain. We love Big Macs and all, but damn.

8 of 9

Credit:

Getty Images

Processed cheese slices are only 51 percent real cheese.

We would hope you knew those Kraft singles on your sandwich weren't quite the same as regular cheese, but most don't know how low the actual percentage is. In fact, if a cheese is labeled "pasteurized process cheese product," it might be even less than 51 percent. The other 49 percent is made up of possibly cream, milk fat, water, salt, artificial color, oils, and additives. Yummy.

9 of 9

Credit:

Getty Images

Subway isn’t “fresh.” All their items are made of frozen ingredients — even the bread.

Subway might seem like the safer alternative to other fast food places, but according to Reddit user and former Subway employee Mermaid_toes, all the items come prepackaged and frozen — yep, even the bread. They simply throw the frozen bread into a bread warmer. So much for "eat fresh."